ALTIMA VS. MAXIMA: BATTLE OF THE NISSAN SEDANS

AND THE WINNER IS... YOU.

No matter which mid-size Nissan sedan you choose — the 2018 Nissan Altima or the 2018 Nissan Maxima — you’ll be rewarded by Nissan’s commitment to performance, design and innovation.

Both sedans have four doors and seating for up to five. The similarities don’t quite end there, but they are two very different cars.

Maxima is the more muscular and luxurious sedan of the pair, with a focus on performance and a premium interior. It’s powered by a standard 300hp V6 and features a Sport Mode Selector for a customizable driving experience. The Altima—Nissan’s best selling car—focuses on efficiency with a standard 4-cylinder engine matched with an Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission that together deliver 38 MPG Highway.[[826]]

2018 Nissan Altima

2018 Nissan Maxima

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALTIMA AND MAXIMA?

The quick answer is that Maxima is built for performance, while Altima is built for efficiency. Which one is the right one for you depends on your priorities.

What is most important to you?
Here’s how Altima and Maxima shine in three of the big car purchase considerations:

Fuel Economy
Are you looking to save money at the pump? Then the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Altima is the choice for you. With mileage of 38 MPG Highway it has better highway fuel efficiency than the 2018 Hyundai Sonata and the 2018 Ford Fusion.[[758]]

Performance
Maxima outdoes Altima in this category, with a standard 3.5L V6 300hp engine that provides pulse-quickening performance at every trim level. Altima has an available 270hp 3.5L V6 that packs plenty of power of its own. Both sedans have an available SR trim that includes a sport-tuned suspension and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, but if performance is your first consideration, Maxima is your first choice.

MSRP
If price is the biggest factor for you, Altima has been a dependable choice for the budget conscious decades. It starts starts at just $23,140 MSRP while the top-of-the-line 3.5 SL tops out at just $33,510 MSRP.[[528]]

ALTIMA AND MAXIMA: SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE

Both Maxima and Altima are equipped with a suite of technologies we call the Nissan Intelligent Safety Shield. Safety Shield Technologies® monitor, respond, and protect, helping to keep you and your passengers safe on the road.

THE 2018 NISSAN ALTIMA

Inside and out, the 2018 Altima is a modern vision of the sedan made real with innovative manufacturing technique and technologies that come together in a stylish package. More than 300,000 people got behind the wheel of a new Altima in 2016, join them in 2018.

2018 NISSAN ALTIMA HIGHLIGHTS

2.5L 4-Cylinder or available 3.5L V6 engine

Active Grille Shutters (4-cylinder trim only)

Available Dual Zone Climate Control

Available Sport Suspension on SR Trim

Visit the Why Altima page to see how this spacious and efficient sedan matches up against competitors like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata.

THE 2018 NISSAN MAXIMA

It challenges conventional notions of what a 4-door sedan can be. With 300hp, a performance-tuned suspension, a luxurious cockpit loaded with technology, a striking aerodynamic profile, and a Sport Mode setting that gets your heart racing, it isn’t just a sedan. It’s the 4-Door Sports Car®.